Dance lesson by Cascade Zydeco

Wednesday Night Zydeco

Cascade Zydeco hosts Wednesday Night Zydeco featuring live music every 2nd & 4th Wednesday and a DJ'd dance 1st and 3rd Wednesdays. Every event starts with a zydeco dance lesson (or sometimes blues or waltz), followed by dancing to Zydeco, Cajun, blues, swing, and waltz. Great for beginners and experienced dancers. It's a zydeco tradition to change partners often and dance with everyone, so there’s no need to come with a partner. Drop in once, become a regular! Et toi!

What is Cascade Zydeco?

Cascade Zydeco is 501(c)3 Oregon non-profit association with members from all over the USA. CZ fulfills its mission of building and sustaining Zydeco, Cajun, and other music & dance from Louisiana by sponsoring dances, hosting live Zydeco and Cajun bands, organizing dance workshops and special events, and by supporting the Waterfront Blues Festival.

In 1999 Cascade Zydeco established a membership association, directed by an executive committee and board of directors. Members receive discounts, stay up-to-date with an email newsletter, and enjoy an information-packed web site. Cascade Zydeco exists and thrives entirely because of the time and energy of numerous volunteers, ensuring that Zydeco music and dance continue to flourish in the Pacific Northwest.

What is Zydeco?

Zydeco is a blues sub genre and the dance music of the French speaking southwest Louisiana Creoles. Zydeco instrumentation centers around the button or piano accordion and a frottoir -- a rub board or washboard worn like a vest. The frottoir is played with spoons or forks and is used to provide rhythm and a distinctive sound.

Zydeco music was originally created at house dances, where families and friends gathered for socializing. It was often just called French music or “le musique Creole” known as “la-la.” The music integrated waltz, shuffles, two-steps, blues, rock and roll, and other dance music forms. Today, zydeco music integrates traditional styles with genres such as R&B, soul, reggae, hip hop, ska, rock, Afro-Caribbean and other styles.

Swamp Thang!

Swamp Thang! is a 6 piece band from Portland OR playing swampy Soul and Rock & Roll in the Zydeco tradition. Featuring some of the best musicians Portland has to offer (at least that's what our Mee-Maw said) Swamp Thang! will be featured regularly on the 4th Wednesday of every month for the Cascade Zydeco dance at the Secret Society. Bring your dancing shoes and get ready to boogie!

Paul Brainard -
Paul Brainard plays steel guitar with anyone in town who will let him on stage. . . He has performed and recorded with many local groups as well as acts from Southwest Louisiana such as Dexter Ardoin, Chubby Carrier, Andre Thierry, The Pineleaf Boys, Jesse Leger & Joel Savoy.

Jesse Young -
Jesse Young is a vocalist and guitarist born and raised in the cultural stew of South Louisiana.
He’s played the Pendleton Round Up, The Portland Jazz Festival, and held a residency for two years
as the house musical entertainment every Sunday for brunch at Portland’s legendary New Orleans eatery, Acadia Bistro.

David Kahl -
David Kahl has been around long enough that it's easier to list who he hasn't worked with, but a good partial list of notables would include Pinetop Perkins, Paul deLay, Lloyd Jones, and Duffy Bishop. Among his most cherished childhood memories is living down the street from a friend, whose uncle, Lee Dorsey, was a frequent visitor.

Greg Hyatt -
Bassist Greg Hyatt has been bringing his funky brand of low end to worldwide audiences for over two decades. He's toured and recorded with national acts, including Toad The Wet Sprocket offshoot, Lapdog, Zoo People (Atlantic Records), and Five Easy Pieces (MCA). Recently, he's been weaving grooves for local soulstress Kris Deelane & The Hurt, Rose City Kings (w/Steve Kerin), Brethren Thread (w/Jesse Young) and holding down Rick Danko's iconic basslines for Portland's recreation of The Last Waltz. Greg is also a nationally published author and music educator ('Get Locked'/Alfred Publishing) and recently co-produced and played bass for Secret World Live, a recreation staged at Revolution Hall of Peter Gabriel's award-winning 1994 concert.

Jennifer Smieja -
A singer/songwriter with her evocative Folk/Country/Blues quartet, Jennifer also lends her voice to the Too Loose Cajun/Zydeco band, The Likely Stories, and has joined some of Portland’s favorite tribute shows including Patsy Cline, Hearts on Fire Country Duets, and The Next Waltz.

Steve Kerin -
Steve Kerin was born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana, the heart of Cajun Country. Steve has shared the stage with Trombone Shorty, Marcia Ball, Lloyd Jones, and Curtis Salgado, to name a few. Steve has also been awarded the Muddy Award for best keyboards five times by the Cascade Blues Association. He currently plays in Too Loose Cajun and Zydeco Band, KD & the Hurt, Rose City Kings, and Bayou Boyz.

Ezra Holbrook -
Ezra Holbrook has played drums with many of the Northwest’s finest bands including The Minus 5, Redray Frazier, The Decemberists, Casey Neill & the Norway Rats, Jeremy Wilson and many more. He’s also a founding member of Dr. Theopolis, KMRIA and an organizer of many local charitable events such as From Smiths To Smithereens and Cover Your Hearts.